Sustaining and Rebuilding

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES S NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

2004 REPORT TO CONGRES REPORT TO CONGRESS

The Status of U.S. F The Status of U.S. Fisheries sheries

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Office of Sustainable Fisheries

August 2005
SUSTAINING AND REBUILDING

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE 

2004 REPORT TO CONGRESS 

THE STATUS OF U.S. FISHERIES 

As mandated by the Sustainable Fisheries Act amendments to the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1996

August 2005 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

Office of Sustainable Fisheries 
An online version of this report is available at 

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/reports.html

This publication may be cited as: 

NMFS, 2005, Annual Report to Congress on the Status of U.S. 

Fisheries – 2004, U.S. Dept. Commerce, NOAA, Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., 

Silver Spring, MD, 20 p. 

Cover: © Ray Troll, 2002; © Terry Pyles, colorization 2002 
A MESSAGE FROM THE 

 NOAA ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR FISHERIES

Welcome to NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service’s report on 

the status of the U.S. fisheries for 2004

This report presents the status of U.S. marine fish 

stocks for 2004. Ending overfishing and rebuilding 

stocks to the level that provides maximum 

sustainable yield is a high priority for NOAA’s 

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the 

eight regional Fishery Management Councils 

(Councils). Together, we are dedicated to achieving 

the goal of sustainable fisheries envisioned by the 

Congress in the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996. 

This report documents status changes for previously 

assessed stocks and new determinations for stocks

assessed for the first time in 2004. 

NMFS has increased the number of assessed stocks

over the last several years, and this trend will

continue. In 2004, NMFS completed 84 stock 

assessments, of which 10 were for stocks not 

previously assessed. Stock assessments are the 

foundation for sustainable U.S. marine fisheries 

management. These assessments provide the 

information to determine if the proportion of a stock 

taken by a fishery is too high (overfishing) or the 

biomass of a stock is too low (overfished). 

 

Overall, 81% of the stocks and stock complexes 

with known status are not subject to overfishing,

and 72% of the stocks and stock complexes with 

known status are not overfished. For stocks that

transitioned from an unknown status to known, 

87% are not subject to overfishing and 78% are not 

overfished. It is important to note that appropriate 

management measures can end overfishing quickly, 

but subsequent rebuilding of the stock takes time 

for reproduction and growth to result in increased 

biomass. 

We approved 5 fishery management plan 

amendments in 2004 to implement final rebuilding 

plans for 23 stocks in the Northeast, Southeast,

Northwest, and Alaska regions. This is a significant

accomplishment, establishing new management

measures to rebuild these stocks. 

The following is a brief summary of how the status

of our marine fisheries changed in 2004:

One stock, Pacific whiting, has been fully rebuilt, 

and overfishing is no longer occurring. This highly

productive west coast groundfish stock rebuilt very 

quickly following a 2002 determination that the

biomass had declined below the overfished 

threshold. 

Mid-Atlantic black sea bass is no longer overfished, 

and overfishing has ended. Three more stocks have 

increased in abundance to the point they are no

longer overfished (lingcod, pacific ocean perch, and 

king mackerel – Gulf group). Rebuilding measures

for all these stocks will continue until each stock has 

fully rebuilt to the level that provides maximum 

sustainable yield. Additionally, Gulf of Mexico red 

drum is no longer subject to overfishing.

Three previously assessed stocks were determined 

to be overfished. Two of these are Alaska crab 

stocks which already have rebuilding plans and 

fishing is not allowed. The third stock is butterfish,

and rebuilding measures are being developed. 

Seven stocks or stock complexes were determined 

to be subject to overfishing (Atlantic sea scallop,

summer flounder, Gulf of Mexico greater amberjack,

shortspine thornyhead, black rockfish – North, 

Hawaii bottomfish complex, and large coastal 

sharks). Appropriate management measures will be

implemented to lower the fishing mortality rate for 

these stocks or complexes. 

A majority of our assessed fish stocks are not 

overfished or subject to overfishing. However, NMFS

and the Councils will continue working toward the 

goal of rebuilding all stocks and maintaining them at 

highly productive levels. We also are committed to 

increasing the number of stocks that are assessed. 

We will face challenges - the natural environment is

unpredictable; management measures may not 

always work as planned; and as new information 

about a stock becomes available it may alter our 

view of its potential yield and status. We are 

addressing these challenges and will continue to

improve the status of U.S. marine fisheries.

William T. Hogarth, Ph.D.

1
Introduction

hi

ef

Fis

s report describes the state of our nation’s marine fisheries and the

fectiveness of fisheries management under the Magnuson-Stevens 

hery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) as amended in 1996 by 

the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA). The SFA emphasized the need to end 

overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, and establish management plans 

designed to ensure biologically and economically sustainable fisheries. A 

stock above an established fishing mortality (harvest) rate is said to be

subject to overfishing. A stock below its prescribed biological threshold is 

considered overfished. 

T

Significant progress continues in our 

scientific knowledge of marine

fisheries and our ability to use that 

knowledge to manage the sustained 

use of the Nation’s marine fish 

resources. This report is prepared

annually in response to a 

Congressional requirement to report 

on the status of marine fisheries 

within each Council’s geographic area 

of authority and to identify those 

fisheries overfished or approaching an

overfished condition. 

“The Secretary shall report annually to the 

Congress and the councils on the status of 

fisheries within each council’s geographic area 

of authority and identify those fisheries that are 

overfished or are approaching a condition of 

being overfished.” 

-Section 304(e)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as 

amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996

This report identifies managed marine fish stocks in the U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone1

, including stocks that straddle international boundaries and 

highly migratory stocks. In response to the Congressional requirement, the 

report categorizes stocks according to their individual status. The report also 

provides answers to four questions to help gauge the effectiveness of 

management measures designed to meet the provisions of the SFA: 

1. What stocks are subject to overfishing? 

2. What stocks are overfished? 

3. What stocks are approaching an overfished condition?

4. How do this year’s determinations compare to previous years? 

Using the Best Available Data

To categorize marine fish stocks for this report, NMFS reviewed each stock 

relative to the status determination criteria (SDC) contained in the relevant

fishery management plan (FMP). Sometimes the SDC do not apply to each 

individual stock, but rather are applied broadly to a group of similar species 

harvested together or sharing a similar life history. These groups are referred 

 

1 The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone extends from 3 to 200 miles offshore and covers more than 2 million 

square miles.

2
to as “stock complexes” or assemblages and may be particularly useful when 

data are sparse or lacking. A stock complex is measured either against the 

SDC for its proxy stock or against the complex as a whole, depending on the 

data and assessment tools available to the scientists. For the first time, this 

years’ report includes these stock complexes, rather than listing species

individually. 

Based on a review of the best 

scientific information available against 

the SDC for each stock or stock

complex, NMFS determined the 

overfishing and overfished condition, 

including whether or not it is 

approaching an overfished condition. 

NMFS used many resources to make

these determinations, including final, 

peer-reviewed documents such as 

Stock Assessment Review Committee 

reports and recommendations of each 

Council’s Scientific and Statistical 

Committee. For species not included 

in a federal FMP (i.e., species 

managed by international agreement), the stock status determination was 

made using other official sources of information, as adopted in accordance

with the relevant FMP. 

More information on stock complexes and the methodology used to include 

them in this report can be found in Appendix 1 located on the NMFS website. 

Stock complexes are used in the Pacific Islands and the Alaska Regions, as 

well as by the NMFS Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) division. 

Changes to Determinations

This report is based on assessments completed as of December 31, 2004.

Results from fishery stock assessments in progress on December 31, 2004

will be captured in next year’s report. Changes in status determinations from 

2003 to 2004 appear in Table 1 below. These changes are fully illustrated in 

Tables 10 and 11 at the end of this report. 

Table 1. Changes in Status Determinations from 2003 to 2004 in number of stocks. 

“Known to known” means the stock had a known determination in 2003 and 2004. 

“Unknown to Known” means the stock was listed in 2003 as “unknown” and in 2004 

has a known determination. 

Status Category in 2004 Known to known Unknown to known Total 

Overfishing 5 2 7

Not overfishing 3 13 16 

Overfished 3 2 5

Not overfished 6 7 13 

Determinations 

Overfished - A stock size that is below a

prescribed biomass threshold 

Overfishing - Harvesting at a rate above 

a prescribed fishing mortality threshold 

Approaching Overfished Condition - 

Based on trends in harvesting effort, 

fishery resource size, and other 

appropriate factors, it is estimated that 

the fishery will become overfished within 

2 years

3
The MSA requires action to end overfishing and to develop rebuilding plans 

for overfished stocks. A summary of the management actions, where 

required, is listed below for those stocks with new overfished and overfishing 

determinations. 

Management action is being taken on the seven stocks newly listed as 

subject to overfishing. 

• The Atlantic sea scallop stock is currently at a high biomass level. The 

New England Fishery Management Council implemented measures for 

the 2005 fishing year, starting March 1, 2005, including revised access

area trip and days-at-sea allocations, implementation of the Georges 

Bank Closed Area Access Program in full, that are expected to

eliminate overfishing for this stock. 

• Summer flounder is a rebuilding stock that continues to increase in 

biomass. The stock size is at the highest level in the past 25 years but 

is not yet fully rebuilt. The most recent assessment determined that 

overfishing is occurring for this stock. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council was notified of the change in status for this stock

on May 11, 2005. The Council will recommend action to reduce the

fishing mortality rate and end overfishing as part of their annual 

specification setting process. 

• Shortspine thornyhead was determined to be subject to overfishing in

2004 following analysis of 2003 harvest data, since data were not yet 

available for the full 2004 fishing year to make a determination. The 

Pacific Fishery Management Council took action to prevent continued 

overfishing on shortspine thornyhead, by implementing a 35%

reduction in participating vessels through a December, 2003 

vessel/permit buyback program and by expanding the trawl Rockfish 

Conservation Area. This area now includes greater coverage of

continental slope areas to provide stronger protection for overfished 

darkblotched rockfish, which co-occurs with other slope species like

shortspine thornyhead. 

• Black rockfish - North was determined to be subject to overfishing in 

2004 following analysis of 2003 harvest data. Black rockfish is an 

abundant nearshore species targeted by commercial and recreational 

fisheries. Our state partner in managing black rockfish, Oregon, 

implemented a commercial license limitation program to constrain the 

capacity of their nearshore commercial fisheries for several rockfish

species, including black rockfish. Further, black rockfish was separated

out of the State’s minor nearshore rockfish species complex in order to 

give it more targeted management, including area-specific harvest set 

asides that facilitated State monitoring and harvest constraints and 

inseason closures in their recreational fisheries. 

• A March, 2005, update of data for Gulf of Mexico greater amberjack 

shows catches are close to the rebuilding levels for 2004 and only 

moderately over for 2003, although the overfishing level was 

exceeded. In response to the overfishing determination, an increase in 

4
the target catch level for greater amberjack planned for 2005 was

cancelled, and the stock will be assessed again in 2005 to determine if 

overfishing has ended or if further management measures are needed

to reduce fishing mortality. The stock assessment for greater 

amberjack is currently underway. 

• The Bottomfish Multi-species Complex – Hawaiian Archipelago contains

up to 19 species previously listed as unknown. The Western Pacific 

Fishery Management Council (WPFMC) was notified on May 27, 2005, 

that this complex is subject to overfishing. NMFS published a notice of

a control date for this fishery on July 13, 2005 (70 FR 40305). The 

WPFMC is currently analyzing management options to reduce fishing

effort in the EEZ around the main Hawaiian Islands, and will prepare 

an amendment to the Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish FMP. 

• The assessment for the Large Coastal Shark Complex is based on 22

stocks. Management of this complex includes measures to reduce 

fishing mortality in both the commercial (retention limits, landing 

restrictions, seasons, quotas, and gear restrictions) and recreational

(minimum size, bag limits, and landing restrictions) sectors. An

assessment of this complex’s status is scheduled for 2006 to

determine if these measures have successfully reduced overfishing. 

Further action will be taken if necessary. 

Management action, as appropriate, is being taken on the five stocks newly 

listed as overfished. 

• Blue king crab – St Matthew Island and Tanner crab – Eastern Bering

Sea are in rebuilding plans and directed fisheries are closed. The 

biomass for both stocks is near their threshold levels. Both stocks had 

been declared not overfished in the 2003 report after being listed as 

overfished for several years. Fluctuation around the threshold level 

could result from environmental conditions or from variability in

assessment results. Since a rebuilding plan is in place and the fisheries 

are closed, no further action is needed at this time. 

• The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council was notified of the 

overfished status of Atlantic butterfish on February 11, 2005. 

Management measures to rebuild this stock are under development.

• Pelagic armorhead complex – Hancock seamount is a complex that

was previously listed only by its indicator stock, pelagic armorhead. 

This stock complex uses pelagic armorhead as the indicator species of

a three-species seamount groundfish complex that includes raftfish

and alfonsin. This stock complex does not have a formal rebuilding 

plan or time period for rebuilding. The fishery in the U.S. EEZ has been 

closed under sequential 6-year moratoria since the inception of the

FMP in 1986. The current moratorium is effective until 2010. These 

moratoria have been treated by NMFS as a de facto rebuilding plan, 

and previous versions of this report referred to the cumulative period

of these moratoria as the time period for rebuilding. The WPFMC is 

5
currently considering more permanent conservation and management 

measures for this stock complex. 

• The assessment for the Large Coastal Shark Complex is based on 22

stocks. Management of this complex includes measures to rebuild the 

stock for both the commercial (retention limits, landing restrictions, 

seasons, quotas, and gear restrictions) and recreational (minimum size

and bag limits, and landing restrictions) sectors. An assessment of this

complex’s status is scheduled for 2006 to determine if these measures

have resulted in rebuilding as anticipated. Further action will be taken 

if necessary. 

The status of all 688 stocks and stock complexes is summarized in Table 2. 

Overview of Overfishing in 20042

• 236 stocks or stock complexes are known with respect to their overfishing 

status. Of these: 

o 192 stocks or stock complexes are not subject to overfishing. 

o 44 stocks or stock complexes have a fishing mortality rate that

exceeds the overfishing threshold (i.e., subject to overfishing). 

• 452 stocks or stock complexes have overfishing thresholds not defined or

applicable, or are unknown with respect to their overfishing status. 

Changes in overfishing status in 2004 

Changes in overfishing status determinations for 2004 are listed below. 

Specific changes from 2003 to 2004 by region are found in Table 10, at the 

end of this report. 

• In the Northeast Region -

o Sea scallop is subject to overfishing. 

o Summer flounder is subject to overfishing. 

o Black sea bass is no longer subject to overfishing. 

o Deep-sea red crab is not subject to overfishing, having been

listed previously as unknown. 

• In the Southeast Region -

o Gulf of Mexico greater amberjack is subject to overfishing. 

o Gulf of Mexico red drum is no longer subject to overfishing. 

o Dolphin is not subject to overfishing, having been listed 

previously as unknown. 

o Cobia is not subject to overfishing, having been listed previously 

as unknown. 

 

2 Numbers in this section should be viewed with care, as listing by complex may impact this number. This 

change would be most obvious with the stock complexes in the Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks

FMP. In 2003, all individual species in the complexes were assigned the determination made for the

complex, without regard for whether or not that individual stock was specifically assessed. In fact, the 

determination was never made for all the individual species. NMFS believes the 2004 number represents a 

truer picture of stocks and stock complexes subject to overfishing.

6
• In the Southwest Region 

o Skipjack tuna – Eastern Pacific is not subject to overfishing. This 

stock was listed previously as unknown in the Pacific Islands 

Region. 

• In the Northwest Region - 

o Shortspine thornyhead is subject to overfishing. 

o Black rockfish - North is subject to overfishing. 

o Pacific whiting is no longer subject to overfishing. 

• In the Pacific Islands Region – 

o The Bottomfish multi-species complex – Hawaiian archipelago is 

subject to overfishing. This complex contains up to 19 species

listed previously as unknown. 

• In the Alaska Region – 

o BSAI Other Rockfish complex is not subject to overfishing. This 

complex contains 8 species, 6 of which were listed previously as

unknown. 

o BSAI Other Flatfish complex is not subject to overfishing. This 

complex contains 12 species, all of which were listed previously

as unknown. 

o BSAI Other Species complex is not subject to overfishing. This 

complex contains 63 species, 26 of which were listed previously 

as unknown. The remainder are newly listed. 

o BSAI shortraker rockfish is not subject to overfishing, having

been listed previously as unknown. 

o BSAI rougheye rockfish is not subject to overfishing, having

been listed previously as unknown. 

o GOA Thornyhead Rockfish complex is not subject to overfishing. 

This complex contains 2 species, 1 of which was listed

previously as unknown. 

o GOA Pelagic Shelf Rockfish complex is not subject to

overfishing. This complex contains 4 species, 2 of which were 

listed previously as unknown and 1 is newly listed. 

o GOA Shallow Water Flatfish complex is not subject to 

overfishing. This complex contains 14 species, 5 of which were 

listed previously as unknown. 

o GOA Skates complex is not subject to overfishing. This complex 

contains 9 species, 7 of which were listed previously as 

unknown. 

• For the Atlantic HMS division – 

o Large Coastal Sharks complex is subject to overfishing. This

complex is assessed as 22 species, 16 of which were listed as

subject to overfishing in 2003. 

Overview of overfished status in 2004 

• 200 stocks or stock complexes are known with respect to their overfished

status. Of these: 

o 144 stocks or stock complexes are not overfished. 

7
o 56 stocks or stock complexes are overfished. 

• 487 stocks or stock complexes have overfishing thresholds not defined or

applicable, or are unknown with respect to their overfished status. 

 

Changes in overfished status in 2004 

Changes in overfished status determinations are listed below. Specific 

changes from 2003 to 2004 by region are found in Table 11, at the end of 

this report. 

• In the Northeast Region –

o Butterfish is overfished. 

o Black sea bass is no longer overfished and is rebuilding. 

• In the Southeast Region –

o Tilefish, listed as golden tilefish in previous reports, is no longer 

listed as overfished. 

o King mackerel - Gulf group is no longer overfished and is 

rebuilding.

o Dolphin is not overfished, having been listed previously as 

unknown. 

o Cobia is not overfished, having been listed previously as 

unknown. 

• In the Southwest Region 

o Skipjack tuna – Eastern Pacific is not overfished. This stock was 

listed previously as unknown in the Pacific Islands Region. 

• In the Northwest Region – 

o Lingcod is no longer overfished and is rebuilding. 

o Pacific ocean perch is no longer overfished and is rebuilding. 

o Pacific whiting, which was estimated to be above the target 

rebuilding biomass in 2003, is no longer considered overfished 

and is rebuilt. 

o Cabezon is not overfished, having been listed previously as 

unknown. 

• In the Pacific Islands Region – 

o The Seamount Groundfish complex – Hancock seamounts is 

overfished. Previous determinations had indicated that pelagic 

armorhead is overfished. In this year’s report, that stock is 

assessed as the indicator species of this 3-species complex that

includes raftfish and alfonsin. 

• In the Alaska Region – 

o Blue king crab - Saint Matthew Island is overfished. 

o Tanner crab - Eastern Bering Sea is overfished. 

o BSAI Northern rockfish is not overfished, having been listed

previously as unknown. 

o GOA Deep Water Flatfish complex is not overfished. This 

complex contains 3 species, all of which were listed previously 

as unknown. 

8
o GOA flathead sole is not overfished, having been listed 

previously as unknown. 

• For the Atlantic HMS division – 

o Large Coastal Sharks complex is overfished. This complex is 

assessed as 22 species, 15 of which were listed as overfished in 

2003. 

Approaching an overfished condition 

The basis for determining whether a stock is approaching an overfished

condition is an examination of the current stock biomass and trends in fishing 

effort. Unless the status of the stock is known, a determination about

whether the stock will become overfished within 2 years cannot be made with 

any certainty. Therefore, the definition for the biomass threshold in the FMP, 

along with trends in fishing effort, should be the determining criteria in

evaluating whether a stock is approaching an overfished condition. In some

cases, the pre-SFA definition has remained in the FMP and was used as the 

basis for the determinations. Also, for Pacific salmon stocks, the determining 

criteria are based on maximum sustainable yield/maximum spawner 

potential objectives for natural stocks or stock complexes.

• One stock is listed as approaching an overfished condition: HMS yellowfin

tuna - Atlantic. 

9
Table 2. Description of Major and Minor Stocks by Council, 2004. 

Overfishing Overfished 

Jurisdiction*

Stock Group 

Number of 

Stocks 

Yes No Not 

Known 

Not 

Defined 

N/A Yes No Not 

Known 

Not 

Defined 

N/A 

Approaching 

Overfished 

Condition 

NEFMC Major 27 9 12 5 1 0 10 15 2 0 0 0 

Minor 9 0 2 6 1 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 

Total 36 9 14 11 2 0 15 19 2 0 0 0 

MAFMC Major 11 3 8 0 0 0 3 7 1 0 0 0 

Minor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Total 11 3 8 0 0 0 3 7 1 0 0 0 

NEFMC/

MAFMC Major 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 

Minor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Total 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 

SAFMC Major 24 8 9 7 0 0 5 11 8 0 0 0 

Minor 64 3 13 46 2 0 6 5 46 7 0 0 

Total 88 11 22 53 2 0 11 16 54 7 0 0 

GMFMC Major 22 4 7 9 2 0 4 6 9 3 0 0 

Minor 33 0 7 26 0 0 2 0 26 5 0 0 

Total 55 4 14 35 2 0 6 6 35 8 0 0

SAFMC/ 

GMFMC Major 9 0 9 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0

Minor 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0

Total 11 0 9 1 1 0 0 9 1 1 0 0

CFMC Major 4 1 1 2 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0

Minor 175 0 8 152 15 0 2 0 136 37 0 0

Total 179 1 9 154 15 0 3 1 138 37 0 0

PFMC Major 65 3 36 14 1 11 4 34 13 3 11 0

Minor 102 0 4 56 0 42 2 1 57 0 42 0

Total 167 3 40 70 1 53 6 35 70 3 53 0

WPFMC Major 13 1 4 8 0 0 0 5 8 0 0 0

Minor 22 0 3 17 2 0 1 1 18 2 0 0

Total 35 1 7 25 2 0 1 6 26 2 0 0

PFMC/ 

WPFMC Major 5 1 1 3 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 0

Minor 5 0 1 4 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0

Total 10 1 2 7 0 0 0 3 7 0 0 0

NPFMC Major 53 0 49 3 1 0 1 31 0 21 0 0

Minor 17 0 9 8 0 0 3 1 0 13 0 0

Total 70 0 58 11 1 0 4 32 0 34 0 0

PFMC/ 

NPFMC Major 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

Minor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

HMS Major 15 6 7 2 0 0 4 8 2 0 0 1

Minor 7 3 0 4 0 0 3 0 4 0 0 0

Total 22 9 7 6 0 0 7 8 6 0 0 1

TOTAL Major 252 38 145 53 5 11 32 131 48 29 11 1

Minor 436 6 47 320 21 42 24 13 292 65 42 0

Total 688 44 192 373 26 53 56 144 340 94 53 1

* NEFMC = New England Fishery Management Council; MAFMC = Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; SAFMC = South 

Atlantic Fishery Management Council; GMFMC = Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; CFMC = Caribbean Fishery 

Management Council; PFMC = Pacific Fishery Management Council; WPFMC = Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; 

NPFMC = North Pacific Fishery Management Council; HMS = Atlantic Highly Migratory Species.

10
Status Determinations by Region

Northeast Region

NMFS and the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils 

manage stocks through thirteen FMPs: Atlantic Sea Scallop; Northeast 

Multispecies; Northeast Skate; Atlantic Herring; Red Crab; Monkfish; Spiny 

Dogfish; Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass; Atlantic Bluefish; 

Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and 

Butterfish; Tilefish; and Atlantic Salmon. A Hagfish FMP is under

development. Within these FMPs, 14 stocks subject to overfishing, 18 stocks3

are overfished, and no stocks are approaching an overfished condition. 

Stocks are identified in Table 3. 

Table 3. Northeast Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or 

approaching an overfished condition. 

Council FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

NEFMC Atlantic salmon Atlantic salmon - Y -

Atlantic Sea Scallop Atlantic sea scallop Y - -

Northeast Multispecies cod - Gulf of Maine Y Y -

Northeast Multispecies cod - Georges Bank Y Y -

Northeast Multispecies haddock - Gulf of Maine - Y -

Northeast Multispecies haddock - Georges Bank - Y -

Northeast Multispecies American plaice Y Y -

Northeast Multispecies witch flounder Y - -

Northeast Multispecies yellowtail flounder - Southern 

New England (SNE)/Mid-Atlantic Y Y -

Northeast Multispecies yellowtail flounder - Cape

Cod/Gulf of Maine Y Y -

Northeast Multispecies white hake Y Y -

Northeast Multispecies windowpane flounder – SNE/MidAtlantic - Y -

Northeast Multispecies winter flounder – SNE Y Y -

Northeast Multispecies ocean pout - Y -

Northeast Multispecies Atlantic halibut - Y -

Northeast Skate barndoor skate - Y -

Northeast Skate thorny skate - Y -

NEFMC/

MAFMC Monkfish monkfish - North Y - -

Monkfish monkfish – South Y - -

MAFMC Summer Flounder, Scup

and Black Sea Bass summer flounder Y - -

Summer Flounder, Scup

and Black Sea Bass scup Y - -

Bluefish bluefish - Y -

Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, 

and Butterfish butterfish - Y -

Tilefish golden tilefish Y Y -

 

3

 There is currently no definition in the Spiny Dogfish FMP to make a determination of biomass target. 

Based on the current NMFS recommended biomass threshold, however, the biomass estimates indicate

this stock is overfished. 

11
Southeast Region

NMFS and the South Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico Fishery 

Management Councils manage stocks through eighteen FMPs: South Atlantic 

Golden Crab; South Atlantic Shrimp; South Atlantic Snapper Grouper; 

Atlantic Coast Red Drum; Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats

of the South Atlantic Region; Pelagic Sargassum Habitat of the South Atlantic 

Region; Dolphin Wahoo; Coastal Migratory Pelagics of the Gulf of Mexico and 

South Atlantic; Gulf of Mexico/South Atlantic Spiny Lobster; Gulf of Mexico 

Stone Crab; Gulf of Mexico Shrimp; Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of

Mexico; Gulf of Mexico Red Drum; Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of

Mexico; Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Spiny 

Lobster Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Queen Conch

Resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; and Corals and Reef

Associated Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In

addition, a Calico scallops FMP is under development. Within these FMPs, 16 

stocks are subject to overfishing, 20 stocks are overfished, and no stocks are 

approaching an overfished condition. Stocks are identified in Table 4.

Table 4. Southeast Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or 

approaching an overfished condition. 

Council FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

SAFMC South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

vermilion 

snapper Y - -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper red snapper Y Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper snowy grouper Y Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper red grouper Y Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper black sea bass Y Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper gag Y - -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper speckled hind Y Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

Warsaw 

grouper Y Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper tilefish Y - -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper black grouper Y Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper goliath 

grouper - Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper 

Nassau 

grouper - Y -

South Atlantic Snapper Grouper red porgy - Y -

Atlantic Coast Red Drum red drum Y Y -

GMFMC Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of

Mexico red snapper Y Y -

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of

Mexico red grouper Y - -

12
Council FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of

Mexico

vermilion 

snapper Y Y -

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of

Mexico

greater 

amberjack Y Y -

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of

Mexico

Nassau 

grouper - Y -

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of

Mexico

goliath 

grouper - Y -

Gulf of Mexico Red Drum red drum - Y -

CFMC Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico

and the USVI 

Nassau 

grouper - Y -

Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico

and the USVI 

goliath 

grouper - Y -

Queen Conch Resources of Puerto

Rico and the USVI queen conch Y Y -

13
Southwest Region

NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage stocks through 

two FMPs: Coastal Pelagic Species and the new West Coast Highly Migratory 

Species. Within these FMPs, 1 stock is subject to overfishing (see Table 5), 

no stocks are overfished, and no stocks are approaching an overfished 

condition. 

Table 5. Southwest Region stocks subject to overfishing, overfished, or approaching 

an overfished condition. 

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching?

West Coast Highly Migratory Species bigeye tuna - Pacific * Y - -

*

 This stock also appears in Table 7 as a stock subject to overfishing in the Pacific Islands Region’ s Pelagic Fisheries of

the Western Pacific Region FMP. Each of the 10 stocks shared between these two FMPs is listed only once in the support 

tables as a single stock managed under both FMPs. The Southwest and the Pacific Islands Regions, along with the Pacific 

and Western Pacific Fishery Management Councils, are working together to end overfishing in this stock.

14
Northwest Region

NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage stocks through 

two FMPs: West Coast Salmon and Pacific Coast Groundfish. Within these

FMPs, 3 stocks are subject to overfishing, 6 stocks are overfished, and no

stocks are approaching an overfished condition. The stocks are identified in 

Table 6. 

Table 6. Northwest Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or 

approaching an overfished condition. 

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching?

Pacific Coast Groundfish lingcod Y - -

Pacific Coast Groundfish black rockfish - North Y - -

Pacific Coast Groundfish shortspine thornyhead Y - -

Pacific Coast Groundfish Bocaccio - Y -

Pacific Coast Groundfish canary rockfish - Y -

Pacific Coast Groundfish darkblotched rockfish - Y -

Pacific Coast Groundfish widow rockfish - Y -

Pacific Coast Groundfish Cowcod - Y -

Pacific Coast Groundfish Yelloweye rockfish - Y -

15
Pacific Islands Region

NMFS and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council manage stocks 

through five FMPs: Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region; 

Crustaceans Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region; Precious Coral Fisheries

of the Western Pacific Region; Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish Fisheries 

of the Western Pacific Region; and Coral Reef Ecosystems of the Western

Pacific Region. Within these FMPs, 2 stock or stock complexes are subject to

overfishing, 1 stock or stock complex is overfished, and no stock or stock

complexes are approaching an overfished condition. These stocks or stock 

complexes are identified in Table 7. 

Table 7. Pacific Islands Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or 

approaching an overfished condition. 

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

Pelagic Fisheries of the Western 

Pacific Region 

bigeye tuna - Pacific *

Y - -

Bottomfish and Seamount 

Groundfish Fisheries of the 

Western Pacific Region 

Seamount Groundfish 

complex – Hancock 

Seamount**

- Y -

Bottomfish and Seamount 

Groundfish Fisheries of the 

Western Pacific Region 

Bottom Multispecies 

complex – Hawaiian

archipelago 

Y - -

* This stock also appears in Table 5 as a stock subject to overfishing in the Southwest Region’s West Coast Highly 

Migratory Species FMP. Each of the 10 stocks shared between these two FMPs is listed only once in the support tables as 

a single stock managed under both FMPs. The Southwest and the Pacific Islands Regions, along with the Pacific and 

Western Pacific Fishery Management Councils, are working together to end overfishing in this stock. 

** Pelagic armorhead is assessed as the indicator species of a 3-species groundfish complex that includes raftfish and 

alfonsin.

16
Alaska Region 

NMFS and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council manage stocks

through five FMPs: GOA Groundfish; BSAI Groundfish; Bering Sea and

Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crab; Alaska Weathervane Scallops; and 

Alaska High Seas Salmon. In addition, Pacific halibut is managed jointly with 

the Northwest Region and the International Pacific Halibut Commission. 

Within these FMPs, no stocks or stock complexes are subject to overfishing, 4 

stocks or stock complexes are overfished, and no stocks or stock complexes 

are approaching an overfished condition. These stocks or stock complexes 

are identified in Table 8. 

Table 8. Alaska Region stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, or 

approaching an overfished condition. 

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

BSAI King and Tanner 

Crab 

snow crab - Bering Sea - Y -

BSAI King and Tanner 

Crab 

blue king crab - Pribilof 

Islands - Y -

BSAI King and Tanner 

Crab 

blue king crab – Saint 

Matthew Island - Y -

BSAI King and Tanner 

Crab 

Tanner crab – Eastern Bering

Sea - Y -

17
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species 

NMFS manages Atlantic highly migratory species through two FMPs: Atlantic 

Billfish and Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks. Within these FMPs, 9 

stocks or stock complexes are subject to overfishing, 7 stocks or stock 

complexes are overfished, and one stock or stock complex is approaching an 

overfished condition. The stocks or stock complexes are identified in Table 9. 

Table 9. Atlantic Highly Migratory stocks that are subject to overfishing, overfished, 

or approaching an overfished condition. 

FMP Stock Overfishing? Overfished? Approaching? 

Atlantic Billfish white marlin - Atlantic Y Y -

Atlantic Billfish blue marlin - Atlantic Y Y -

Atlantic Billfish sailfish - West Atlantic Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks 

bigeye tuna - Atlantic Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks 

albacore - North Atlantic Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks 

bluefin tuna - West 

Atlantic Y Y -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks 

yellowfin tuna - Atlantic - - Y

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks 

sandbar shark Y - -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks 

finetooth shark Y - -

Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 

Sharks 

Large coastal shark 

complex* Y Y -

* 

This complex is assessed as 22 stocks, 16 of which had been declared subject to overfishing and 15 of which were

overfished in last year’s report. However, the assessment applies to all species within the complex and no determination 

should have been applied to each species.

18
Table 10. Overfishing determinations in 2003 and 2004. Text in BOLD were added to 

the list in 2004. Stocks in ITALICS were removed from the list in 2004. 

COUNCIL 2003 2004 COUNCIL 2003 2004 

NEFMC cod - Gulf of Maine

cod - Georges Bank

American plaice 

witch flounder

yellowtail flounder - SNE/ 

Mid-Atlantic 

yellowtail flounder - Cape

Cod/Gulf of Maine

white hake 

winter flounder - SNE/ 

Mid-Atlantic 

cod - Gulf of Maine

cod - Georges Bank

American plaice 

witch flounder

yellowtail flounder -

SNE/ Mid-Atlantic 

yellowtail flounder -

Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine 

white hake 

winter flounder - SNE/ 

Mid-Atlantic 

ATLANTIC SEA SCALLOP

CFMC queen conch Queen conch 

NEFMC/MAFMC monkfish – North 

monkfish – South 

monkfish - North 

monkfish – South 

PFMC lingcod

PACIFIC WHITING

lingcod

SHORTSPINE THORNYHEAD

BLACK ROCKFISH - NORTH

MAFMC scup

BLACK SEA BASS

golden tilefish

scup 

golden tilefish

SUMMER FLOUNDER

WPFMC Bigeye Tuna - Pacific4

BOTTOMFISH MULTI-SPECIES

COMPLEX – HAWAIIAN

ARCHIPELAGO5

SAFMC vermilion snapper

red snapper

snowy grouper 

golden tilefish

red grouper

black sea bass 

gag 

speckled hind

Warsaw grouper

black grouper

red drum 

vermilion snapper

red snapper

snowy grouper 

tilefish 

red grouper

black sea bass 

gag 

speckled hind

Warsaw grouper

black grouper

red drum 

PFMC/ PFMC None bigeye tuna – Pacific5

SAFMC/GMFMC None None NPFMC None None

GMFMC red snapper

red grouper

vermilion snapper

RED DRUM

red snapper

red grouper

vermilion snapper

GREATER AMBERJACK

HMS blue marlin - Atlantic

white marlin - Atlantic

sailfish - West Atlantic

bigeye tuna - Atlantic

albacore - North Atlantic

bluefin tuna - West 

Atlantic 

sandbar shark 

finetooth shark 

bull shark 

spinner shark 

silky shark 

dusky shark 

bignose shark 

night shark 

Caribbean reef shark 

tiger shark 

lemon shark 

sand tiger shark 

nurse shark 

scalloped hammerhead 

shark 

great hammerhead shark

smooth hammerhead 

shark 

white shark 

blue marlin - Atlantic

white marlin - Atlantic 

sailfish - West Atlantic 

bigeye tuna - Atlantic

albacore - North Atlantic

bluefin tuna - West Atlantic 

sandbar shark 

finetooth shark 

LARGE COASTAL SHARK 

COMPLEX6

* NEFMC = New England Fishery Management Council; MAFMC = Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; SAFMC = South Atlantic Fishery

Management Council; GMFMC = Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; CFMC = Caribbean Fishery Management Council; PFMC = Pacific 

Fishery Management Council; WPFMC = Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; NPFMC = North Pacific Fishery Management Council;

HMS = Atlantic Highly Migratory Species.

 

4 Bigeye tuna was listed exclusively under the WPFMC in 2003, but is now listed under the shared jurisdiction of PFMC/WPFMC. 5 This newly added complex contains up to 19 species listed in 2003 as unknown. 6 Due to a change in listing protocol, stocks listed individually in previous reports are now listed only as part of their management

complex. From the assessment, the Large Coastal Shark complex includes: Spinner Shark, Silky Shark, Bull Shark, Tiger Shark,

Lemon Shark, Nurse Shark, Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, Great Hammerhead Shark, Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Dusky Shark,

Bignose Shark, Galapagos Shark, Night Shark, Caribbean Reef Shark, Narrowtooth Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Bigeye Sand Tiger 

Shark, Whale Shark, Basking Shark, and White Shark.

19
Table 11. Overfished determinations in 2003 and 2004. Text in BOLD were added to 

the list in 2004. Stocks in ITALICS were removed from the list in 2004. 

Council 2003 2004 Council 2003 2004 

NEFMC cod - Gulf of Maine

cod - Georges Bank

haddock - Gulf of Maine

haddock - Georges Bank 

American plaice 

yellowtail flounder - SNE/ 

Mid-Atlantic 

yellowtail Flounder - Cape

Cod/Gulf of Maine

white hake 

windowpane flounder –

SNE/ Mid-Atlantic 

Winter Flounder - SNE/ 

Mid-Atlantic 

ocean pout 

Atlantic halibut 

barndoor skate

Thorny skate 

Atlantic salmon

cod - Gulf of Maine

cod - Georges Bank

haddock - Gulf of Maine

haddock - Georges Bank 

American plaice 

yellowtail flounder – SNE/

Mid-Atlantic 

yellowtail flounder - Cape

Cod/Gulf of Maine

white hake 

windowpane Flounder –

SNE/ Mid-Atlantic 

winter Flounder – SNE/

Mid-Atlantic 

ocean pout 

Atlantic halibut 

barndoor skate

thorny skate

Atlantic salmon

CFMC queen conch

Nassau grouper 

goliath grouper (Jewfish) 

queen conch 

Nassau grouper 

goliath grouper

NEFMC/

MAFMC 

None None PFMC bocaccio

canary rockfish 

darkblotched rockfish

widow rockfish 

cowcod 

yelloweye rockfish 

LINGCOD

PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH

PACIFIC WHITING

bocaccio 

canary rockfish 

darkblotched rockfish

widow rockfish 

cowcod 

yelloweye rockfish 

MAFMC BLACK SEA BASS

bluefish (except Gulf of 

Mexico) 

golden tilefish

bluefish (except Gulf of 

Mexico) 

golden tilefish

BUTTERFISH

WPFMC pelagic armorhead PELAGIC ARMORHEAD

COMPLEX - HANCOCK

SEAMOUNTS

SAFMC red snapper

snowy grouper 

GOLDEN TILEFISH

red grouper

black sea bass 

speckled hind

Warsaw grouper

black grouper

red porgy 

goliath grouper

Nassau grouper

red drum 

red snapper

snowy grouper 

red grouper

black sea bass 

speckled hind

Warsaw grouper

black grouper

red porgy 

goliath grouper

Nassau grouper

red drum 

PFMC/ 

WPFMC 

None None

SAFMC/ 

GMFMC 

KING MACKEREL - GULF GROUP None NPFMC Pribilof Islands blue king 

crab 

Bering Sea snow crab 

blue king crab - Pribilof 

Islands 

snow crab - Bering Sea 

BLUE KING CRAB - SAINT

MATTHEW ISLAND 

TANNER CRAB - EASTERN

BERING SEA

GMFMC red snapper

greater amberjack 

vermilion snapper

Nassau grouper

goliath grouper (Jewfish) 

red drum 

red snapper

greater amberjack 

vermilion snapper

Nassau grouper

goliath grouper

red drum 

HMS blue marlin (Atlantic)

white marlin (Atlantic)

sailfish (West Atlantic)

bigeye tuna (Atlantic)

albacore (North Atlantic)

bluefin tuna (West Atlantic) 

bull shark 

spinner shark 

silky shark 

dusky shark 

bignose shark 

night shark 

Caribbean reef shark

tiger shark 

lemon shark 

sand tiger shark 

nurse shark 

scalloped hammerhead 

shark 

great hammerhead shark

smooth hammerhead shark 

white Shark 

blue marlin (Atlantic)

white marlin (Atlantic) 

sailfish (West Atlantic) 

bigeye tuna (Atlantic)

albacore (North Atlantic)

bluefin tuna (West Atlantic) 

LARGE COASTAL SHARK 

COMPLEX

* NEFMC = New England Fishery Management Council; MAFMC = Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; SAFMC = South Atlantic Fishery

Management Council; GMFMC = Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; CFMC = Caribbean Fishery Management Council; PFMC = Pacific 

Fishery Management Council; WPFMC = Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; NPFMC = North Pacific Fishery Management Council;

HMS = Atlantic Highly Migratory Species

20
U.S. Department of Commerce 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

Office of Sustainable Fisheries 

August 2005